Clark Co. R-1 School Board Starts District Wish List

Clark Co. R-1 School Board Starts District Wish List

By Mike Scott

The district’s future needs were on the minds of CCR-1 School board members as they met last Thursday evening at Running Fox Elementary School.Topping the list of immediate concerns are intercoms in both elementary buildings.

“It’s a safety issue,” explained Superintendent Ritchie Kracht. Currently, if there is a problem, someone has to go from the office to each classroom to notify the teachers. A recent incident at Running Fox, where an unknown motorcyclist stopped at the school to get out of the rain, was used as an example.

Another important item needing attention is the wiring in the old part of the middle school.

“It’s 12 years older than what we just replaced in the elementary buildings, “ Kracht said.Other items on the district’s wish list include paving the parking lot at the high school, parking lot expansions at both the Middle School and Black Hawk, air conditioning, expanding the press box at the athletic field, and replacing windows in the elementary buildings.

Other district needs included adding a technology coordinator to maintain and repair the district’s over 400 computers, more textbooks and vocational offerings, as well as expansion and remodeling.

Many small construction projects could be handled by the Building Trades classes.The board receive some good news in the form of higher-than -expected attendance for August. The final was 49.27 students higher than 2007, 31 of which came from Wyaconda.

“There is a good chance we may end the year higher than two years ago,” Kracht said. That is important because state funding is based on the highest enrollment of the current or previous two years.

“Its’ a big plus,” added Kracht.

Kracht reported that Jeff Shaffer was awarded a plaque from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for his outstanding work maintaining the district’s bus fleet.

“It’s good to know the buses are in good shape and everyone is as safe as possible,” Kracht said.

The board discussed the possibility of adding volleyball as a girls sport.Jason Church reported that he had spoken with the athletic directors around the area, and they would have interest in adding Clark County to their schedules.

“It may take some time to build a full schedule,” Church cautioned.Board member Carmen Arnold suggested the next step would be to survey the students to see if there is interest.

“A survey should cover a broad spectrum of athletic activities,” Church said.Board member Brad Sprague suggested that the district also survey boys to see what their interests are.

“We’re assuming we know what they want, but maybe not,” Sprague said.

The board also approved taking the first step toward paving the high school parking lot. In a unanimous vote, the board approved spending $3250 with Great River Engineering to do preliminary engineering survey work on the lot, which will then allow them to develop a construction plan.In other business, the board:–Approved a preventative maintenance contract with Frank Millard Co. for the air conditioners.–Reported that it is Clark County’s turn to chair the Tri-Rivers Conference meetings.